Lt. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan III, commander of US Central Command Air Forces, praised the work of coalition forces at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, during a last trip through his area of responsibility. “Bagram has continued to evolve and has become more and more effective as an airlift center and producer of close air support,” said Buchanan. He noted that the Afghanis are beginning “to get on with the business of life,” adding that there is still “a long way to go,” but he believes the coalition “will be victorious.” Buchanan is scheduled to retire this spring.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.